What have you done to your car today?

Those muddies look nuts, great to see it now. but it looked awesome dumped as well
 
I advised yesterday that I had put my 2002 XS into Volks-Baru for major work. John had the engine out yesterday, heads off, timing belt off and clutch removed.
The feedback is:
Heads leaking oil and water badly,
Spark plug tubes full of oil,
Although Docklands advised the timing belt was changed at 70,000 km, now 173,000km, John doubts from the condition that it was ever replaced (he has never seen one so badly worn for 100,000km of wear)
Water pump leaking
Clutch serviceable but worn
Cylinders/ pistons in good condition.

The following work is underway
new clutch, pressure plate, bearings and machine flywheel,
new water pump,
new timing belt, pullies etc,
machine heads, new gaskets.

I figures there was no point putting the motor back in with the existing clutch and pulling it out again in 10-20,000 km.

As the car was previously serviced by the Subaru Inchcape dealer network it does not say much for the quality of work and the service reports given that the heads have been leaking for a long time.

Looking forward to picking up the car on Thursday :ebiggrin:
 
^ That's pretty gruesome, HC. Doesn't say much for the Subaru dealership either ...

IIRC, head gaskets leaking on a 2002 model were the subject of a recall notice, were they not?

Is it worth getting your solicitor to serve Subaru (Inchcape P/L) with a letter of demand covering that part of the work, at the very least?

I agree about the clutch. When you are at this point, what's a few extra quid to have it all done, and properly. It will be like a new car when you have done all this :ebiggrin: :cool:.
 
Scored a free set of bearings for making my draws from a mate at tjm
 
spewin Paul !! doesnt sound real good ?! at least its all fixable/reco'able not just a throw away !!

good score on the drawer bearings to Lachlan !
 
Thanks for the comments, 2013 has been an expensive year. Rebuilt the bathrooms, replaced the hot water service, the heater, put in new springs and struts and now this ! At least I am planning on keeping it so I will get to enjoy it !!
 
Appreciated it.

Haven't really been driving it as I coated the headers in silicone and they keep catching fire.
Plus the mx5 is so much fun. But I did drive it to work and tafe yesterday and it is a bloody great car. I turned around to look at it twice with a big smile on my face as I walked away from it in the car park.
 
Haven'd done anything per se but spend a fair chunk of cash on some bits. Got roof racks, basket, bike holder and shovel holders on the way. Going to get my subtle lift kit next week too i reckon. Prob put them on over the weekend :ebiggrin:
 
Tuesday: Suspension City replaced front lower control arms bushes with offset ones. Drives better and an annoying rattle is now gone. Unfortunately the mechanic drove over his grovel board and it flicked up and put a dent in front left fender. Spewing for the guy because he's such a good bloke and does great work at a great price. I'll try to get it fixed at mates rates so that Suspension City aren't shelling out too much for the repair. (Yes, they offered to pay: many workshops wouldn't. e.g. Subaru at Docklands dented both front fenders while doing flywheel upgrade and claimed that damage was there when I brought it in.)

Today its at Trutrack to check alignment. Tomorrow off to Gariwerd / Grampians.

Will soon post report on the clean up of the interiror. Was a big job.
 
Dulagarl said:
Tuesday: Suspension City replaced front lower control arms bushes with offset ones. Drives better and an annoying rattle is now gone
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Yeah they much such a difference to cornering :monkeydance:

Subaru at Docklands dented both front fenders while doing flywheel upgrade and claimed that damage was there when I brought it in.)
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Have heard all sorts of dodgy things bout them :(:shake:
 
spent all day looking for the right size pipe for my top hat spacers. couldn't find it so i bought some flat bar and will work out how to roll it tomorrow, got a fair idea of how to make a crude bender out of some stock.
 
Dulagarl said:
Subaru at Docklands dented both front fenders while doing flywheel upgrade and claimed that damage was there when I brought it in.
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For me the car gets washed and polished and then 100's of time stamped digital pics are taken from almost every angle so if there is damage then there are plenty of before and after pictures.:lildevil:

in fact when I park at car parks I take pics of the car number plates either side for the same reason. Get your car ruined by some jerk in a car park and can't prove it, you only get done over once after that.:mad:

I have found insurance companies will pay immediately upon seeing before and after shots! :cool:
 
My key has been a little touchy of late, so I put a new battery in it.
Now it works like a charm :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
PigSti said:
For me the car gets washed and polished and then 100's of time stamped digital pics are taken from almost every angle so if there is damage then there are plenty of before and after pictures.:lildevil:

in fact when I park at car parks I take pics of the car number plates either side for the same reason. Get your car ruined by some jerk in a car park and can't prove it, you only get done over once after that.:mad:

I have found insurance companies will pay immediately upon seeing before and after shots! :cool:
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Very good idea, if a little paranoid lol :raz::lol:

Dad always taught me to wash & vacuum the car before getting work done so they take more care, also to mark nuts/bolts so I know the works actually been done or not. Bit paranoid also haha :lol:
 
i could tell exactly what work was done last time i took mine to the mechanic, if the bolt head wasn't broken off it was cross threaded, never going back there again.
 
Timing belt, water pump, cam and crank seals, wheel bearing, gearbox axle seal and cv boot all replaced today. Hopefully that will be the end of my repairs for the time being.

Timing belt and water pump were very easy and would have only taken 2.5 hours except one of the cam seals were completely ceased in and took forever to get out. I am just praying that I didnt damage the camshaft surface in the extraction process. I was also thrown by the timing belt marks as one of the marks was half a tooth out and could not physically be aligned up with the mark on the cam pulley. I used the marks on the engine to line it all up and just ignored the belt lines, it seems to run fine and no longer leaks water.
Wheel bearing was a PITA, had to weld something to the outer of the bearing to be able to press it out as it was so ceased in. New one went in no problem at all.

When I got the bearing retainer on the gearbox off it turned out that the seal was wrong size :yell: Went back to bursons (a different bursons store to where I bought it from) and the guy there was unbelievably helpful in finding the correct one. Not only did he spend over half an hour measuring up pretty much every seal in the shop to try match the old one I brought in, but also accepted my return of the incorrect seal without question even though it was covered in greasy finger prints and the packet was completely destroyed and also dropped the cost of the new seal by a dollar so that I didnt have to pay any more. Very very happy with the service of the second store.
 
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